Since I’m the mother of one 14 month old, I feel as though I am qualified to give out unsolicited parenting advice:
DO WHATEVER THE FUCK YOU WANT!
Well…within reason…
I think everyone has been subjected at some point and time over the course of their parenting journey on a short “how to be a parent” lesson or “how to accomplish a task that involves a child” when you never asked for advice in the first place.
Unsolicited advice or remarks are, unfortunately, a part of life. No one knows how to keep their opinion or thoughts to themselves. It’s just actual word vomit. I don’t care if you have 0 children or 20 children, I don’t want your input unless I ask for it.
It’s probably one of my top 3 pet peeves on this Earth. I try very hard to be mindful of comparing or giving out advice when it’s not asked for. I don’t want your advice, therefore, I assume you don’t want mine, unless you specifically ask for it.
I am a FIRM, so very FIRM believer in parenting the way you feel is right for you and your family.
Period.
What works for you and your family IS the right way to parent and don’t ever let anyone tell you different. What works for you and your family is the RIGHT way to parent, but DO NOT try and say your way of parenting is the holy grail of parenting because then you are just dumb.
There are so many different parenting scenarios and situations and you will have to adapt and do what’s best for you and your family. AND THAT’S OKAY. From one person and baby and family to the next, there are so many different aspects of life that make them parent the way they do. AND THAT’S OKAY. You adapt and move on with life.
I just saw a Facebook post that pretty much drove me to write this piece. Here is the Facebook post with pictures:
These few pictures describe SO many different aspects of parenting and they are all RIGHT. I don’t know any of the women in these pictures, but I am sure they have adapted to their personal situations, they all have healthy, thriving babies, and they are raising their babies to the best of their abilities. And that’s all that matters.
There are three of my friends, that all had babies in a five month window. I have been close with the mothers and the fathers of these babies for a very long time. For the most part we all grew up together, were involved in the same things, hung out together, etc.
Every single one of these babies are parented differently. AND THAT’S OKAY! Some breastfeed, some formula feed, some do CIO, and some can’t do CIO, some cosleep, some have their babies in the crib, all of our birth stories are different, all of our maternity leaves were different, and all four of us have healthy, thriving, happy babies.
AND THAT’S OKAY.
